As a disabled veteran, I owe the DAV a tremendous debt, as do the many thousands of veterans who have been assisted by this non-profit organization. Most people don’t realize why an organization like the DAV is even necessary. The US Veterans Administration (VA) is supposed to take care of military veterans, right? Unfortunately, like any large government organization, the VA can be very difficult to navigate. For a disabled veteran, already dealing with medical issues and physical and mental trauma, this is often so daunting that they don’t have any idea where to even start. Thankfully, volunteers and staff at the DAV know exactly how to help guide veterans through this system and file the appropriate paperwork to get the support they have earned. In addition, the DAV’s legislative staff tirelessly advocate at the federal level to ensure that US military veterans are not forgotten and that laws and policies are put in place to assist and support them. From their website: “In 2017, DAV helped attain more than $4 billion in new and retroactive benefits to care for veterans, their families and survivors.” This is why I am a lifetime member of the DAV and why I support them in their mission of “Fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served.”